Growers say fruit's ready, but workers are scarce

Seattle Times ^ | 8-30-06 | Joe Mullin

[lovecraft]

Maybe where you live but not here!

I live in Greenville, SC.....did you mean "here" as in the article or "here" as in where you live?

[SJackson]

SJackson: If illegal migrant workers are available, legal migrant workers will be available. They'll just cost more.

ClaireSolt: Pretty simplistic. There are conditions where there is no supply. I had an experience in 91 of advertising for a secretary at $6.00/hr and getting 100 applicants. Four years later I needed a secretary and went without for months. Advertising and listing with agencies brought no applicants. Finally, I got one through a referral and paid a lot. That's how much conditions can change in a labor market.

Simplistic, I suppose, it’s high school economics, at best. If there’s a labor shortage, you pay more. That increases the supply.

You have growers employing illegal immigrants as we speak.

Legal immigrant labor is also available, but at higher cost.

Are you really suggesting that if a grower approaches one of his illegal workers as says next year, we’re getting you a visa, I’m doubling your pay, and paying for your housing while you work for me the illegal is going to say, No Sir! I prefer things the way they are. I like looking over my shoulder for the INS. Besides, how much can an unskilled worker like myself spend.. Any illegal immigrant would be happy to work legally, particularly for what will likely be higher pay.

This isn’t about availability of labor, it’s about the cost of labor. Which is cheaper when obtained outside the law.

When you needed a secretary, did you consider offering to pay her “off the books” in cash. Sure, you would have been violating tax and labor laws, but it might have been cheaper. Independent of illegal labor, there’s an underground economy that operates that way. That’s what growers who employ illegals are doing.

[SJackson]

Until I had seen quite a few illegals packed like sardines into unairconditioned metal containers in the 100 degree heat, it had not really hit me how inhumanely illegals are treated by the folks who smuggle them here. I imagine these folks pay good money to be smuggled here, and I imagine they will/would do it again if caught. If they aren't dead from heat exhaustion.

Naah, they like abusive treatment. That's why their employers don't opt into legal programs than would provide transportation.

[ClaireSolt]

After high school comes college for the best. Then comes real life. When I needed a secretary, there were none to be had. Certainly, one can design incentives. However, as I said, these temporary, seasonal jobs are not very appealing and they are in remote areas. Since you are stuck in a high school mentality, you can't understand those points.

[RipSawyer]

live in Greenville, SC.....did you mean "here" as in the article or "here" as in where you live?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I am in the PeeDee, the employment situation here is not good. Perhaps you meant options other than work?

[SJackson]

After high school comes college for the best. Then comes real life. When I needed a secretary, there were none to be had. Certainly, one can design incentives. However, as I said, these temporary, seasonal jobs are not very appealing and they are in remote areas. Since you are stuck in a high school mentality, you can't understand those points.

As I'm sure you can tell, high school and college would have been a challenge for me. I'm one of those sub-standard intellects who operates under the juvenile opinion that laws apply to everyone. Even apple growers. Worse yet, I support enforcement of the laws, and would be happy to see growers in violation of the tax or immigration laws fined. Imprisoned if the violations are flagrant enough. I'd extend that beyond the agricultural industry as well, but they're the lawbreakers under discussion here.

[lovecraft]

I am in the PeeDee, the employment situation here is not good. Perhaps you meant options other than work?

I was born around the Bennetsville/Dillon area, we left there when I was young. That area still sucks for employment options but up here in Greenville I've had no shortage of job offers. I have a GOOD job making above average for a 34 yr old (by SC standards anyway) and I usually have someone calling me offering me a job almost monthly.

If the situation is still dire down there you may want to consider a move to where the work is. It's something my family had to learn when I was young and at times it felt like we were nomads. When the IT market busted in the late 90's, not only did I have to move to find work, I had to completely change careers. The point of all this is that THERE IS WORK, if you're willing to go after it.